In a videotape of a Jan. 8, 2011, City Hall community forum obtained by CNN, Zimmerman described his experience with police:

"I also have had the opportunity to take ride-alongs with the city of Sanford Police Department, and what I saw was disgusting," Zimmerman said at the time. "The officer showed me his favorite hiding spots for taking naps. ... He took two lunch breaks and attended a going-away party for one of his fellow officers."

The forum took place five days after the resignation of former Police Chief Brian Tooley, reports the Miami Herald. Tooley stepped down after the son of a police lieutenant was caught on video beating a homeless black man, and no arrests were made for weeks.

After working with the neighborhood watch for two months, Zimmerman wrote this email to Tooley's replacement, Bill Lee, on Sept. 18, 2011:

"I have high hopes for, and restored faith in your administration and the Sanford Police Department in its entirety," he wrote.

He praised the volunteer coordinator and said she went "above and beyond to help launch a neighborhood watch"; he called her "a testament to the highest level of professionalism of (the chief's) administration."

Court documents released last week of an email exchange between Zimmerman and the Sanford Police Department showed a cordial, "even friendly" relationship between Zimmerman and police, according to the CNN report.

New video from the Miami Herald also shows Zimmerman with the back of his head bandaged, unaccompanied by officers at the Sanford Police Department. Some say this illustrates Zimmerman's relationship with police, according to the Miami Herald.